Strength Sort Challenge
The basic premise of the challenge is to hand 100+ cards to an individual (cards roughly the size of playing cards). Each card has a specific “strength” listed on it. The person doing the challenge looks at each strength card and makes two piles. Either a “yes that’s me” pile or a “no that’s not me” pile. Go with your gut response to the strength. It shouldn’t take you more than 2-5 seconds per card. Once the individual has a pile of strengths that he/she identifies with, they are then told to take it down to their top 25. This is a little more difficult and could take a few minutes to do. After they have narrowed it down to a top 25, the moderator tells them to do one last step – take it down to their top 10. Usually the individual moans during this step because they don’t want to get rid of any of the 25 cards they have, but this is critical in the process of identifying what really is your strength. During this step you start asking yourself the question, “Is this really a
strength, or is this just something I wish was a strength?”
Now that the individual has their top 10 cards, the moderator checks off the individual’s strengths on the list starting with the top 25 and then starring the top 10. Give particular attention to categories where the individual has several strengths grouped together or no strengths at all. The moderator has several things they can discuss with the individual at this point such as: difficulties in getting down to only 10 cards, differences between the top 25 and top 10 lists, and contrasting/complementing strengths with other people on the team. After doing this, the individuals are encouraged to write out ways they plan to use 2 of their strengths in the next 30 days. One way should be personal (non-work related) and the other is how they plan to use this strength at work. The moderator can help them with these goals and schedule a follow-up meeting 30 days later to discuss progress.
Some things I discovered while using this challenge:
- People love talking about themselves. This was one of the most fun exercises we ever put our employees through.
- People love telling you about what they are good at. It gives them an appropriate outlet to share what their passions are.
- This challenge was just as much for the leader as it was for the employee. I heard the strangest things come out of people’s mouth. One girl’s strength was wrapping packages. I sat there and thought, “Really?” But guess who was organizing our bulletin board every month from that point on . . . .
- It empowers both the employee and the manager to know what people enjoy. I wouldn’t think twice about who would help me with inventory after doing the challenge. I knew who enjoyed organization and numbers. People love talking about themselves. This was one of the most fun exercises we ever put our employees through.
- People love telling you about what they are good at. It gives them an appropriate outlet to share what their passions are.
- This challenge was just as much for the leader as it was for the employee. I heard the strangest things come out of people’s mouth. One girl’s strength was wrapping packages. I sat there and thought, “Really?” But guess who was organizing our bulletin board every month from that point on . . . .
- It empowers both the employee and the manager to know what people enjoy. I wouldn’t think twice about who would help me with inventory after doing the challenge. I knew who enjoyed organization and numbers.
